One of Marvel’s newest comics, “Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man”, may only be three issues in but it’s proven to be a superb iteration of the timeless superhero that will please both longtime fans and newcomers. Writer, Chip Zdarsky, is producing a fun yet engaging storyline as well as a fast-paced script that goes along perfectly with Adam Kubert’s zany artwork which culminates in this monthly comic being a starling representation of Spider-Man and one of the most fun comics I’ve read yet.
This comic releases a new
issue once a month which means it is slightly more expensive than other comics
that release issues twice a month. You can find each 20-page issue of “Peter
Parker: Spectacular Spider-Man” at a local comic store or online at Marvel.com
for the price of $4.99 and I assure you that it’s worth the price.
“Peter Parker: The
Spectacular Spider-man” will easily resonate with fans of the web-head as
writer, Chip Zdarsky, jumps right into the action. I found this direct approach
much more engaging than a stale retelling of the character’s commonly known
origin. Zdarsky lets the reader know right away what the tone of this comic
will be by presenting witty dialogue that has humored me throughout these first
three issues. Zdarsky doesn’t just make jokes for the sake of laughs; the
comical banter between the characters entertains while also developing
meaningful relationships between those characters such as Spider-Man and the
Human Torch who have had numerous interactions together which has built a
believable friendship between the two superheroes while being quite fun to read
as well. One of this comic’s best concepts is the humor; Zdarsky has
consistently crafted endearing jokes and one-liners throughout all three issues
while also poking fun at the standard tropes of Spider-Man’s character which I
found particularly funny as well as unique that separates this comic among the
countless other Spider-Man comic runs.
Zdarsky isn’t trying to
reinvent the wheel here though; he’s telling a fun story befitting of
Spider-Man that has a simple feel to it. The first three issues have mainly
just consisted of Spider-Man interacting with other characters and what Zdarsky
really does a superb job at is quickly establishing the relationships without
wasting too much time or making new readers feel left out. Spider-Man’s
interaction with Ant-Man in the first issue tells a charming little tale about
the pair trying to fix Ant-Man’s malfunctioning suit which isn’t the most exciting
story but Zdarsky’s characterization invested me into the story. He made me
care about these characters and not just because they’re already well-established
superheroes but because Zdarsky is creating believable relationships among
likable characters.
If you’re looking for a
game changing story here than this may not be the comic for you. So far, the
central plot has consisted of Peter Parker having to locate and stop the source
of hacked Stark cell phones (as in Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man) which leads him
to a tech-crime ring. This is far from the most intriguing storyline for
Spider-Man but that’s not what Zdarsky is going for. The writer’s objective is
to have the characters drive the flow of the story as character is the focus
thus far and great character is what I love most about reading comics.
The story has taken an
engaging turn, however, as Peter Parker’s sister, Teresa, is seeking her
brother’s help as she has become a fugitive for trying to expose a horrible
truth regarding the possible extermination of all superheroes. The fact that
Peter Parker even has a sister is enough to draw me in as not only is Teresa
Parker a terrific addition to the comic but her presence also adds a new layer
to Spider-Man as he feels protective over Teresa. I love how Zdarsky has not
only increased the stakes of the story but also the personal stakes for
Spider-man which adds to this comic standing on its own because Spider-Man
isn’t trying to save the world as he’s done in so many other comic runs; he’s
just trying to protect his sister, one of the last members of his family.
Teresa and Peter Parker have an excellent back and forth that makes me care
about Teresa as much as Peter does. Peter Parker is known for being quite the
smart mouth and Teresa goes toe to toe with him on that account no problem.
Zdarsky truly has done a superb job at developing great relationships in this
comic but this brother and sister dynamic is for sure the best he’s written in
this run yet.
These colorful characters align perfectly with
Kubert’s colorful artistry which also fits the fun tone of the comic like a
glove. The character’s facial reactions are always on point and the action is
easy to follow as Kubert doesn’t have the pages too crowded. Kubert’s art adds
to the comic being an excellent starting point for new Spider-Man comic readers
as it is a shining example of great comic artistry especially for Spider-Man
and is an overall joy to behold. Good artwork is very difficult to pull off and
it’s even more difficult for the artist to match their work with the writer’s
pace but Kubert achieves both. The character’s fast movements align perfectly
with Zdarsky’s fast paced dialogue harmonizing a truly entertaining comic. Best
of all, Kubert’s art style contains the essence of this comic, fun. Each
issue’s art is an absolute joy to behold as the action seamlessly flows through
the pages and Kubert angles each scene just right to give the reader the best
possible perspective; I always felt totally immersed in the story. Kubert’s
artistry is among the best you’ll find in not just a Spider-Man comic but any
comic in general.
Chip Zdarsky’s “Peter
Parker: Spectacular Spider-Man” is not a ground-breaking comic yet but Zdarsky
and Kubert have established an excellent starting point for anyone looking to get
into their first Spider-Man comic or just comic books in general. The story is
full of characters that you’ll fall in love with right away and want to follow
on their heroic journey. All of that on top of Zdarsky’s quippy dialogue,
superb characterization and Kubert’s zany artwork forge into an extremely fun Spider-Man
comic that even creators, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, would have to call spectacular.
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